Fastener applying implement



May 2, 1950 s. RAKuslN FASTENER APPLYING IMPLEMENT Filed May 6, 1949 Patented May 2, 1950 UNITED STATES Shahid TENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

This invention relates in general to implements and tools for applying fasteners and deals, more particularly, with improvements in implements for applying fasteners in the form of staples, and the like, for attaching and securing buttons on clothing and other articles on which buttons are used.

The implement or tool of the invention is in the general nature of a stapling device adapted to be operated easily and quickly in the manner of a conventional stapler to drive and clinch a staple for securing a button on any article on which buttons are usually sewed by a, needle and thread.

A primary object of the invention is to provide Aa stapling implement of this character which comprises a staple driving member combined with means for positioning and retaining a button in aligned relation to the staple prior to and during the operation for driving the staple in a manner whereby the legs of the staple are readily guided through the usual holes in the button to complete the attachment of the button in a minimum of time and effort.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a stapling implement in which the means for positioning and retaining a button to be attached is provided in the form of a, pair of spaced pins which are received in the usual spaced holes in the button to hold the same in alignment with the legs of the staple prior to and during the I staple driving operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stapling implement, as aforesaid, in which such pins for positioning and retaining the button to be attached are provided on or carried by the Another object of the invention is to provide a stapling implement in accordance with the foregoing together with suitable means for protecting the buttonfrom damage during the driving and clinching of the staple.

Further objects and advantages of the inven- 5 tion and other new and useful features in the construction, arrangement and general combination of parts thereof will be readily apparent as the following description proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings, for purposes 2 of illustration but not of limitation, in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a stapling implement in accordance with the invention, and showing in section a button in position to be secured to a, piece of material;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of Fig. 1 along line 'fl-2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of Fig. 2 on line 33;

Fig. a is a sectional view of Fig. 1 on line 4 4 showing the staple feeding mechanism in the implement; and, Fig. 5 is a sectional view along line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Referring now, more particularly, to the drawings, Eig. 1 illustrates a typical arrangement of an implement or tool in accordance with the invention as provided for applying staples to attach buttons to the cloth of a garment or other article instead of the usual sewing by needle and thread. The customary procedure for sewing buttons onto clothing and other articles is a, tedious, and laborious operation and frequently is effective only a relatively short time before the buttons become loose and separated from the garment and must be resewed thereon. By the use of the present invention, a button may be easily and quickly secured in the simple manner of a conventional stapling operation and in a much stronger and more durable attachment through the use of small metallic fasteners of wire, sheet metal, or the like.

The implement or tool of the invention is provided, in general, in a highly simplified construc tion comprising a base and a hingedly mounted arm thereon which includes a magazine for a supply of fasteners and a housing for the fastener-applying or staple driving member of the implement. These component parts of the implement may, of course, be provided in various forms and in any size in proportion to the size and gauge of the staples or other fasteners with which the implement is intended to be used. In the presentexample, the implement is shown as provided in the general form of a stapling implementv or tool T, comprising a Vbase lil and a hingedly mounted arm 3l) carried by said base. Preferably, the'base lil is provided with a raised portion i! at its rearward end defining a dxed stop which limits the downward movement of the hingedly mounted arm 30 relative to the base for a purpose presently to be described. An adjustable stop l2 having a similar function is also provided in the manner of a set screw threaded outer ends of said side walls 62 defining guide surfaces which bolster the lower portions of the slidable button retaining pins 4B as shown in Fig. 2. The arrangement is such that a strip of staples s is snugly received between the spaced side walls 52 of the staple guide channel with the forward staples of the strip straddling the central guide bar 55 as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. The staples are thus supported for precise and exact feeding to the shear plate 5E at the end of said guide bar 55 where they are individually severed from the strip in each fastener applying operation by the movement of the staple driver 55 past said shear plate B5.

A rod 'I0 in said guide channel 6D is provided preferably as an elongate bolt threaded into a hole in the rear of the central guide bar 65 and having its headed end supported in an opening in an end wall or flange 'II extending upwardly from the bottom wall IiI of the staple magazine or guide channel GQ. Thus, when a strip of staples s is loaded in said magazine, the forward staples straddle the central guide bar 65, as aforesaid, while the rearward staples straddle across the rod 'IIL All staples in a strip are snugly received between the side walls 52 of the magazine with the ends of the staple legs resting on the bottom wall 5I of the magazine; and in this manner, the entire strip of staples is guided and supported in the forward feeding movement thereof.

The feeding of the staples is effected by a spring urged staple pusher l5, Figs. 4 and 5, which is provided in an inverted channel shape corresponding substantially to the shape of the staple and comprises, similarly, legs 'I5 resting on the bottom wall 6I of the guide channel and an intermediate portion adapted to engage the intermediate portions of the staples. A generally U- shaped extension attached to said intermediate portion of the staple pusher 'I5 defines a pair of spaced connecting ears 18, I9, which are provided with aligned holes through which the rod I extends, in a manner whereby the staple pusher is connected to the rod Ill at spaced points and ls adapted to slide longitudinally thereof. A helical spring 85 is coiled around the rod ID in compressed relation between the rear connecting ear 'I9 on the staple pusher and the end wall II of the magazine and thereby serves to slide the pusher l forwardly toward the shear plate 56 defined by the forward end face of the central guide bar 65.

In loading the magazine E!) with a supply of staples, the staple pusher 'I5 is slid rearwardly by the operators finger to a retracted position, as represented in broken lines in Fig. 4. The coil spring 8c is readily compressed as necessary for this purpose between the rear connecting ear 'I9 on the staple pusher and the end wall 'II of the magazine, and in such retracted position of said pusher l5, a complete strip of staples is readily inserted into the magazine in straddling relation to the rod 'IU and central guide bar 65, as previously explained. The pusher l5 is then permitted to engage the rear end of the strip of staples under tension to advance said staples the distance of the staple removed in each fastener applying operation. The feeding action takes place regu larly until only one staple remains in the magazine, whereupon the forward movement of the pusher is stopped upon engagement of the forward connecting ear 'I8 on said pusher with the stop surface defined by the rear face 5l of the central guide bar 55. In this stopped position, the leading edge of the pusher 'I5 is substantially in line with the shear plate 66 at the forward face of the central guide bar B5, and cannot move into the path of the staple driving blade 55 after the application of the last staple in the magazine. Thus, in the event that the driving blade 55 is actuated when the staples are exhausted, said driving blade 55 moves harmlessly in its usual path without danger of striking the pusher I5 in any manner which might damage either said staple driving blade 55 or the staple pusher 15.

The staples s may be provided in any color to blend with the color of the button or the color of the fabric to which the button is to be secured. The staples may be prepared in such colors by a thin coating of paint or plastic in various ways and preferably are provided in the form of strips, as described, although individual staples may be inserted and applied in the same general operation and use of the implement.

It will be understood that the implement of the invention is readily constructed for any size staple required for securing various buttons in which the holes in the buttons have approximately the same spacing; and, in this regard, many buttons in a selected range of sizes have a substantially standard spacing between the holes therein. Thus, as shown in Fig. 2, the implement is constructed, as aforesaid, in accordance with any such standard by providing the button retaining pins 48 thereof in a suitable spacing to be received inthe spaced holes in a button I ad- `iacent the outer edges of said holes and with legs of the staples s adapted to pass through the remaining areas of said holes adjacent said retaining pins 48.

In the use of the invention, accordingly, a button I to be secured to a piece of cloth or other material 3 is placed over the anvil I5 as shown in Figs. l and 2. The button is retained by the pins 48 received in the holes therein and the button otherwise located at the proper point of attachment to said material 3. This is readily effected simply by raising the housing arm as necessary to slip the retaining pins d8 through the holes in the button, whereupon the housing arm 3D is lowered and the material 3 shifted as necessary to dispose the button at its proper point of attachment thereto. For most buttons of a selected standard, as aforesaid, the stop IlI defined by the raised portion on the base Ill is provided at a predetermined point to prevent any possible crushing elect on the button during the staple driving operation. In the event that the button is somewhat thicker than normal, the adjustable stop I2 is turned as necessary to project above the fixed stop II as shown in dotted lines in Fig. l to thereby serve the same purpose.

The securing of the button I to the fabric 3 is then easily and quickly effected simply by actuating the handle 4I, Fig. 2, to move the plunger 4D downwardly for the fastener applying operation. The downward motion of the plunger @Il moves the staple driving blade into engagement with the foremost staple of the strip and simultaneously causes the upper ends of button retaining pins i8 to slide upwardly into the wells 5 in said plunger. 'This retracting movement of the pins 48 permits the entire arm 30 of the implement to move toward the button I to the extent limited either by the fixed stop I I or the adjustable stop I2, as the case may be. In this relation, the ends of the staple legs are in precise alignment with the holes in the button inasmuch as the ends of the guide pins 48 are disposed in said button holes for this specic purpose.

V.embraced therein.

"7 Accordingly,- as .the foremostestaplesis engaged fb'y. the drivingbladev 55 and'separatedfrom; the strip of staples, thelegs: offthestaple-passreadiiy into. the holesV in the button` I. andfthrons'i the fabric 34. and arefbent over at .the Yunderside of fthe iabriorby, engagement with. curved clinchilg surfaces llgon the anvil l; ln the fina-1;.clinching and; tightening. ofthestaplaiany undue, force. that 'might tend to. damage the butt-on isavodedbv virtue of they cushion mounting of the, anvil i5 which permits said anvil;` to yield; as necessary to alleviate any such undue forcee vvthe button@ The implement is thus vadaptedto be operated repeatedly by: similar-successive fastener applying operations, ,after eaehstaple isapplied, the spring ier-3e on the stapler pusher 't5 oausesthe same; toV efect va .progressive feeding; of the strip .of staplessv to theA for-ward and; or the magazine Eil where they aresevered'individually frornrthe strip and yapplied hy the attionoi` the staple .driver A553 in aA repetition Lof the foregoing `de- .soribedprocedure Y v Y While the invention hasbeen` described in de tail with aspeciio example, such example is intende-:i as an illustration. only inasmuch asit will. be apparent that various changes `may be made in the construction,` arrangement and gen eral combination of parts of the implement With,- out departing from the. spi-rit and seopek of the invention. Thelpresent emhoCliment` is therefore .te beconsidered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictiva the scope ofthe invention .beingl `indicated by the Vappended claims .rather than by .the foregoing description, with all changes falling within the scopa` meaning and .range ofequivalency oi theclaims intended to be g What is claimed and desired to bescured by United States Letters` Patent is:

l. An implement for applying a fastener to secure a button` to a supporting materiaL said implement comprisinglabase and means O n said hase forsupporting a button over said material, a housing associated.` vvithsaid base, aV member in vsaid housing provided- Withimeansfordriving said fastener, means on, said. member and retraetable relative thereto.. for retaining said button in position` for the fastener applying operation, and means insaid housing for feedingvv fasteners to said driving means. ,Y

2,. An implement iora'pplying Ya" fastener to secure a button to a supporting material, said im- ,pieni-ent comprising 'a base and means on said baseV for snpportingja button over said' material, aY hoi-sing associated with said base,4 fastener feeding meansin said housing,` a member in said Ahousing'provided with means, for driving said rast-ener, and aA pair of spaced retractable pins on saidA 'member adapted to be received in spaced Vholes said button to retain the button in posi tionY for the fastener apply-ing operation.

3. An implement. for applying a fastener t0 'secure a button to a supportingmaterialgsaid irnvplement comprising a base and means on said "bas'e'ior supporting a button over said' material, a housing hinged'torsaid base, a member in said 'nous ig provided with means for driving said fastener, a pair' of spaced pins on said member adapted torbe received in spaced holes in said hut-ton to retain the button-'in position for the fastener applying' operation, means in said housing for fee. ing'fasteners to said driving means, .and a'stop on said base forlimitingthe movement ofsaid housing tOxvardfSaidr base.

4. An uimplement' for "applying a fastener .to secure a button to a supporting'materiahsaid implement comprising, a base and ananvil on said base for supporting a lbutton overV said m3.- terial, a housing hinged to said base, .a member in said housing provided with. means or `driving,` said fastener, a pair Ofispaced pins on said member adapted to be received in spaced holes `in said button to. retain the button in position .fori'the fastener applying operation,- means .in

said housing Vfor feeding fasteners to said driving means, and means yieldably mounting said. anvil on said base adapted to prevent undue force on tl e button during the fastener applying operation.

5. An implement for applying a fastenerto secnre-a button to a. supporting material, saidimplement, comprising a base and; means on said base tot supnortngza-buttonover said' material, .a housing hinge-.da tov Saidbase. a member in. said housing provided with means for driving said fastener, a pair oi spacedV pins on said member adapted to Vbe received in spacedl holes in .said button to retain the button in position for the fastener applying operation, means inl saidI heuefor feeding fasteners to said driving means comprising a guide channel, Va shear plate at therfforvvard end of said channel, and mea-ns for advancing fastenersinsaid guidev channel tol said shear plate.

6. een. implement 'for applying: a fastener to eein'e a button to a. supporting material,; said implement comprising. abase means on said base for supporting a button overv said material, a housingrhinged tesaid base, a member in said housing provided with means for driving` said fastener, Aa pair of, spaced pins on said member adapted to be received. in specedholes.insaid button to retain. `the button in llositionfon the fastener applying operation, meansinsaid hens.- ing for feeding .fasteners tov said .driving means comprising av guide channel, a shear plate, at the forward .endof said guide channehroealls for advancing fasteners.' in said guide channel .to said Ashear plate, and a stop en said base. for limiting the movement of said housing toward said base.

7'.Y An .implement Vfor applying a. fastener vto lsecure a button. to a .supporting material.t said implement.comprisingar lease and an` anvil on said base for supporting arbutton over said material, a housing hinged to said, base,V a member in said housing provided with moans for driving said fastener, a pair of spaeed ns en said member adapted to be received in ,spaced holes. yin said button to retain the button in position for the fastener applying operation, means in said housing. for Vfeeding fasteners to said driving means comprising a guide channela shear plate at the forward end of guide channel, means for advancing fasteners in said guide channelto said shear plate, a stop on said base for limiting the movement of said housing toward base, and means yieldably mountingsaid anvil on said base adapted to prevent undue forcel on the-but'- tonv during the fastener appli Y operation.

8. An implement for applyingv a fastener to secure a button to ar supporting material, said implementv comprising a base an anvilon said hase for sup-porting a button over said material, a housing hinged to said base, fastener driving means in said housing comprising a reciprocable member having a pair of holes, springs in said holes, and spaced' button retaining pins yieldably mounted in said" Vunder foro-e of said springs andi adaptedtoY be received in spaced holes in said button toretain the hettonfin position for the fastener applying-operaaerienne i0 tion, means in said housing for feeding fasteners into the path of said driving means comprising REFERENCES CITED a guide channel, a shear plate at the forward end The fOl'lOWl'ng references are 0f recOrd in the of said guide channel, means for advancing me 0f 3h15 patenti fasenerstn said ude cfharinelhtto stailid shear UNITED STATES PATENTS p a e, a s op on sai ase or ,1mi ing e move- A ment of said housing toward said base, spring Nuzngm S Name F bnelma means yeldably mounting said anvil to prevent 267283 Toners. I? 7' 1882 undue force on the button during the fastener 1479512 Polflknm JOV 1 1924 applying operation, and means for varying the 10 1854647 Ff ns mig 1932 force of said spring means on said anvil. 00 p1 STANLEY RAKUSIN. 

